I came here recently and ordered the Zobel Combo. It was a great deal - tons of food for $30. It was just me eating it so I have plenty of leftovers for at least 2 more meals. The food itself was great and very flavorful, however one of the lentil dishes was very salty. Overall a great deal and I'd be happy to come back. The service is a bit slow but the waiter was very friendly. The chairs were a bit dirty and the inside of the restaurant didn't seem the cleanest, but the food made up for it. read more

Zobel - 27 Zobel Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The zobel combo plate is definitely enough to share between 2-3 people, comes with two injera sourdough flatbread and a variety of siga and doro wot (spiced beef and chicken stews with a curry-like texture) and a mix of veggies (chickpeas, spinach, cabbage). read more

Zobel - 27. Zobel Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Great Ethiopian food. They move quickly which is nice for takeout and the restaurants usually pretty quiet. Don't forget to try their spicy spice! read more

I have been to this Ethiopian spot so many times, and I am so blown away by the fact that this might be one of the best food deals in all of Seattle. For $20 for the combo plate, you get to try like 10 different dishes to share with a friend and then have another few meals for leftovers. Just on value alone, I cannot recommend this enough because if you compare to other Ethiopian places like Queen Sheba, one dish is probably going to be $20. The restaurant is unassuming and it feels like it's inside a banquet hall, but the servers are very friendly and kind. The vegetables are all very well cooked as well as the meats and my favorite part of eating Ethiopian food is the smell of berbere spice lingering on your fingers afterwards. It's a great spot! read more

Zobel - Zobel Combo Dish - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I used to enjoy eating here and the food and pricing were great. However, I've had TWO failed attempts recently. Granted one was a Tuesday and they're closed. But I met the same friend there a second time, having verified both on the website, the banner on the front of the restaurant AND Google Maps and they're supposed to be open for lunch 11AM to 2PM and they were closed at NOON! I won't be trying again. I understand small businesses have family emergencies, etc. But put up a sign. It seems to be a habit. I banged on the door and nada! it's really too bad. But I'm writing to caution you not to trust their hours. read more

We got their combination plate and all of the items included were delicious! We split this plate between 4 people and there was more than plenty to go around. I appreciate how they gave us extra injera bread. Just taking one star off for the ambiance. The place was a little run down and did not feel very welcoming. Overall good food and would come again read more

Zobel - a plate of food on a table - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We stopped here after a fun scavenger hunt event nearby and wasn't disappointed. We ordered the veggie combo and although it was a bit of a wait even though we ordered online, it wasn't too bad. The veggie combo came with 5 different veggie dishes on injera and they gave us 2 more injera bread with it so it was a hefty portion. Each of the veggie dish was unique and flavorful and the injera bread was soft but strong enough to hold the veggies without disintegrating. Price was actually really good for what you get. The dish fed 2 people and it costs $14. Overall, a good place to come and try read more

Zobel - Veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The lamb was delish! I was in a rush and they had my dinner ready quickly. Great service, I picked up to eat out.

I went here before and I was paying $25 but today I got charged $46 for the same meal. Overall the experience was okay. The owner was kinda awkward read more

Zobel - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Lackluster injera. Perhaps the worst I've has. Zero tang. Just spongy bread. Will mark this as a do not order from here again.

I am giving this such a high review because the pasta was AMAZING!!!! But the other food was definitely cooked in a rush and not cooked over many hours. The injera was quite dry and thin. The atmosphere was awkward as it was completely empty. The service was kind, but the food took forever to come out which really pushed me to think that it was definitely made last minute and not spent cooking and stewing through the day. I will definitely be back for the pasta though. The price was okay but for the small amount of meat in the pasta it was a bit expensive, but so good that I will be back. read more

Zobel - 27. Zobel Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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First time trying Ethiopian food and it was a great experience. The server/bartender was really helpful while we were unsure of what to order. The beef was super flavorful and the portions were generous. The sourness of the injera is not a texture and flavor that will need to grow more on me. read more

Zobel - a red and white plate of food - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Zobel is a tiny, unassuming Ethiopian restaurant in first hill. Ive been a couple times on weeknight and the restaurant has been pretty empty. I split the meat combo ($20) with my friend, and it was so so filling. Definitely gives off hole-in-the-wall vibes, but the portions are huge and food is yummy. Come check it out! read more

Zobel - 27. Zobel Combo Dish - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place helped curve the Ethiopia sized craving my friend and I both had. We were greeted and left with a pretty intense incense smell. The place was really homey and simply decorated. We weren't exactly sure who our waiter was, but the service was super accommodating despite the long time my friend and I spent inside past our meal. I'd have to say some of the items on the vegetarian platter is incredible and I'd be thrilled to order a giant bowl of it. The lentils and collared greens are to die for, without a doubt. Other times sat averagely with me. The odd part was the salad, that was strong in a salty sour taste - it would have been preferable if the dress was milder. My friend's lamb dish was good, but in my opinion the meat was tough and the sauce was peppery. All in all, I love etheopian food and this restaurant still enforces that. read more

Zobel - Vegetarian platter $13.50 - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I ordered takeout since dine-in is not an option at any restaurant right now. I almost drove by it, because it is tucked into the vibrant scenery of the block very well. Luckily I was somewhat familiar with the area and found parking easily. (Lots of meter maids driving around so be mindful of that.) I was greeted first by the amazing aroma of the restaurant spices cooking, but also by both staff, right away and rang out. The food didn't take too long to finish and she carried my bag out to me. I got a veggie combo and also purchased the kobel combo for my partner. Both were super affordable and worth the quantity of food they give you. they do NOT skimp on flavor and seasonings and have a choice of mild medium or spicy. I chose medium and will try the spicy next time. This one is perfect but I'm just curious how hot it will go :) and it is so tasty i know I will be back. read more

Zobel is in a house converted to a cafe, sitting on a street between homes that are still homes. Parking is on-street but we didn't have trouble finding a spot nearby. Upon entering it struck me as more tavern than Ethiopian restaurant, but it was both; it's just that it had more drinkers than diners when we arrived early evening. Only one other table had people sitting at it though the bar was moderately busy. The most memorable thing about the decor were the odd green chairs that seemed to be based on a child's design, and earned smiles all around when remarked upon. We sat in a booth instead at one of the tables with those chairs. After we ordered, it's a good thing we were into a lively conversation, as it took forever for anything but the beers to come to our table. Another group of diners came in as we were waiting. We'd ordered a variety of vegetarian items, which eventually arrived. They ranged from decent to very good, everyone enjoyed the meal a lot I think, even if we remembered better Ethiopian places around the city. One thing we missed was a dish with potatoes we get elsewhere. The basic method of eating at Ethiopian places -- with your fingers, picking up food with spongy injera flatbread -- quite simply adds to the enjoyment of a meal prepared so that no forks or spoons are required. Slightly fancier places will provide warm damp cloths so your hands are good and clean, but they skip that here, so make sure you arrive with clean hands! And if you happen to get your hands sloppy, wipe 'em on your pants when everyone's done. read more

Zobel - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I haven't had Ethiopian food in about 10 years and I have no idea why, but I had the most intense craving for Injera this week so I decided to check this place out. There are many Ethiopian restaurants in the city, but I chose this one because I cannot understand a single word that's on the menu on their website so I knew it had to be the real deal. When I called, I asked if they had any dishes that weren't spicy with maybe lamb or beef- I'm assuming the woman who answered the phone didn't speak English well so she just said "Not spicy? Ok 15 minutes" Considering I didn't understand the menu anyway, I figured my accidental mystery order was as good as any and drove to pick up my treat. When I arrived, the restaurant was completely empty with only a man and a woman working who I now assume are the owners. During COVID family owned restaurants are struggling a lot so I really respect their hustle, and assume they're the only ones on staff right now. Even just going to pick up my food, I could tell that it is probably a nice place to hang out when there are other patrons too! As for the food itself- I have absolutely no idea what I ate but it was phenomenal. Even better, the portion size was huge and probably enough to feed two people- it lasted me two days and was only $16! (Note: You know I'm officially a Seattlelite when I say 'only' and '$16' in the same sentence) All in all, Just go in there and order something. Close your eyes and point at the menu. It'll be fine, trust me. read more

Zobel - I don't know what this is but it was delicious - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best Ethiopian food in town, and I've tried 10+ places. They don't speak the best English, so you have to know what you want, but the food is delicious and much more flavorful than other Ethiopian food in the area. I recommend the Zobel combo, which has a little bit of everything-- feeds 2! read more

I ordered the beef stew with injera. The injera unlike many Ethiopian restaurants was made correctly and done the traditional way. You could tell it wasn't too thick and heavy; it was just right. The beef stew was nicely seasoned and everything was nice and hot. I was worried that when I moved south out of delivery range of another Ethiopian restaurant up north that I'd never find another restaurant that does Ethiopian food the authentic way. I'm glad I did and I plan on ordering here regularly. read more

Nestled between the bustling hospital and residential areas of Central District, Zobel is a sleepy, quaint eatery with cheap prices. I went in around 7:45pm and was surprised to only find a couple of customers, mostly local Ethiopian men around the bar. The lights were relatively dim, the tables and walls spotted with posters of Ethiopian art and landmark photos. I got the Zobel combo, which is mostly vegetables with some beef and chicken, priced at $15.50; this was a filling platter that came with one injera on the side, and was mild and decent-tasting. It could easily feed 2. For tastier food, more attentive service, a better ambiance with outside seating - albeit with higher prices - I would recommend Queen Sheba on Capitol Hill. read more

Zobel - Zobel combo $15.50. Mostly veggies, some meat. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Good food, great prices. Waiter was slow as all get out but very friendly. Will for sure be coming back. Give 5 stars if meet was cooked more tender. Slightly over cooked. read more

Best Ethiopian that we have found in Seattle. The Zobel platter is a great sampler of traditional Ethiopian fare, served with plenty of Injera. Service is very friendly. The downscale vibe gives it an authentic "hole in the wall" feel. We stop by every time that we are in Seattle. read more

My boyfriend and I came in with a Groupon worth 2 entrees and 2 drinks. Our server had a lot of restrictions for what we couldn't order that weren't detailed in the Groupon and didn't offer explanation for why she wouldn't serve certain menu items to us to us. I thought it was because of the price difference and offered to pay more, but she didn't answer any of our questions regarding that. After several tries, we ended up getting the Yebeg Wot and the Zobel Combo. The food took a really long time to come out, and we weren't forewarned about the long wait. The restaurant wasn't busy so I'm not sure why it took so long. Our food was very tasty, but I was displeased with the amount that we got. Considering the fact that we ordered two menu items, I'm surprised at how little we got compared to some of the other pictures of just the Zobel Combo alone that are posted on Yelp. I don't think the way to gain and keep customers from Groupon is to sell them short for what was paid for. I thought the food was fantastic, but I didn't like the way our Groupon was handled. read more

Zobel - Zobel combo with zebeg alicha! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The entrance looks like one to a house - don't miss it! Very unapologetically and simply decorated. The food was amazing and SO much for the price!! I think we paid $30 before tip for the biggest combo they had AND a lamb entree, both of which were delicious. Everyone else in the restaurant was clearly either a regular or a friend of the owner and halfway through the dinner they started blasting Ethiopian dance music which I didn't hate. If you're here for atmosphere and "good" (Western) service then I'd go somewhere else but if you want amazing and reasonably priced Ethiopian food you definitely have to come here. read more

I've come to the realization that there are about one million Ethiopian restaurants in this area. Maybe a little more. Zobel stands out because it kind of has an "at home" feeling. There were lots of people in the restaurant when I was here, and they all seemed pretty comfortably settled in the place. That's always a good sign anywhere, but it's even better when it can be applied to a ton of great food! Let's see, among the things that made me feel relaxed here were the TV, the sight of a piano, and the pool table being used in the back. I love seeing restaurants add these little touches! They also had a full bar which I couldn't take advantage of because I was going to drive afterward. Their bathroom was clean and looked exactly like the kind you find in houses, not like public restrooms. I ordered a Zobel combo, their most complete dish, and it came with a bit of a wait at about thirteen minutes. They made up for it, though, since it was incredibly large with about eight different stews on the injera. My favorite additions were the chicken leg and hard-boiled egg. Such a good idea to add those two! I didn't even come anywhere close to finishing the whole thing, of course. Once my separate plate of injera was empty, I was full and asked for the rest in a to-go box. Plus, they threw in an extra wide "pancake" of injera on top of all that! Those leftovers lasted me three delicious lunches, so it was basically four whole meals. For seventeen dollars after tax, that is an amazing deal. Thanks, Zobel, for keeping me fed for so long! read more

Zobel - Zobel Combo: Siga Tibs, Siga Wot, Kitfo, Doro Wot, and all Veggie Dishes ($15.50) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I don't have much of a comparison when it comes to Ethiopian food but I will say that everything I tried here was delicious and the portions were very generous for the price. Two of us split the combo platter and we still had about 1/3 of it left at the end. For those of you who haven't had Ethiopian, it's kind of like Indian but with less turmeric and cream but more acidity. The bread is spongy, almost crepe like with a sourdough taste. Definitely worth a try. read more

Portions are very small for the take out veggie combo. Salty and dry also. Somehow the dish was $15.. $13 base and $2 tax which doesn't seem right. read more

Zobel - Very small portion for veggie combo take out. Items were salty and very dry and the portions are very small. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We walked into the restaurant and were surprised the whole restaurant was empty on a Friday night. We were skeptical at first considering the emptiness and the very low prices; however we were surprised by how flavourful some of the dishes were on the platter. I forgot the exact name of the combo but it contained both meat and veggie dishes. The waiter was very nice despite him being the only waiter in the entire place. If the meat were more tender, this place would've gotten my 5 stars. read more

Zobel - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

You won't get anything fancy here but you will get some home cooked, authentic and tasty Ethiopian food. Meals are prepared as you order and there is one waitress so be prepared to wait a little. When your food arrives it'll be fresh, plentiful and flavorful. I love to order to combo so I can try all different foods - my favorite was the doro wat and tibs. read more

Zobel - Yum. Let's go - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The definition of a hole in the wall: looks like a shed, tacky blue banquet chair covers, dim lighting, only friends and family drinking at the bar, questionably low prices. I was a little apprehensive at first because there was no one eating, but I'm glad we stuck it out, because the food here is unreal. I ordered the green doro tibs - chicken breast cooked with spices, onion, garlic, and collards, served with a small salad atop injera. $10 and enough for 2-3 meals. Paired with a local draught beer for $3.50, I was quite honestly amazed at the flavour and value of what I got. Could not recommend highly enough! read more

Solid veggie combo ($10) will easily stuff 2 big eaters. Open LATE! Located across from Wade's. Friendly staff. Perfect place to grab take-out for 2 after a long workday on the nights you don't feel like cooking (call 30 min in advance). Ambiance: school cafeteria meets bar. read more

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Came here because a local friend recommended this place. Parking is difficult here even on a weeknight, so be prepared to walk a bit. Service isn't very attentive, so you have to be willing to advocate for yourself (eg literally taking your glasses to the bar to get water). It was so cold that we kept our jackets on inside. That aside, the food itself is mostly good and the price is right. We recommend the vegetarian combo for $14, which is enough for two people, and they don't charge an extra fee for sharing like some places do. The only weird thing is that the injera was cold, like literally straight out of the fridge cold. I suppose we could have asked them to microwave it, but instead we just ate it. It was okay, but I think next time we'll try one of the seven other Ethiopian restaurants in this neighborhood. My dining companion recommends the chicken sandwich, which was spicy and tender as advertised. That was also basically a full meal. We liked the Queen of Sheba art! read more

Bursting with flavor!! Zobel gets 382829 stars for deliciousness, in the food category. My sister and I road tripped from the east coast back to the PNW, and arriving in Seattle at around 11pm on a Tuesday night, this is the FIRST place we went upon returning home. We rarely treat ourselves to Ethiopian, but I wonder why we don't more often, as it is probably our favorite type of cuisine and whenever we have it I find myself craving more for days on end. A former SU student, my sister is super familiar with this neighborhood and knows of the places to go to get our fix... Our favorite, Mesob (one block east) unexpectedly and tragically closed. But then we discovered ZOBEL. relief!! I love that they stay open till 2am daily. WHERE ELSE CAN YOU GO IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT TO GET A MEAL LIKE THIS? I wish the server filled up our water, which never happened and we had empty cups :/ The service isn't like you'd get at red robin.. They do things their own way, and I'm cool with that. In fact, the staff was socializing around the bar and having fun, but I'm cool with that, too, (besides At midnight, we were the only customers.) I'm so happy places like this exist on the hill. If you love Ethiopian food and you're comfortable in new atmospheres/cultures, go nowwwww :) read more

Zobel - First meal back in Seattle. Chowin down! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I'm happy with this place: a clean, simple environment with friendly staff and tasty Ethiopian cuisine. I'm not an Ethiopian cuisine expert, and I have only enjoyed it a handful of times, but I think that the food here is executed very nicely, lots of flavor! It's also fairly priced, we ordered a huge platter of food at only 15 dollars, it fed all three of us. One last perk is that it is open and serves food until 2 am! We live close by and now we know where to go for good, cheap Ethiopian late at night! read more

Zobel - The zobel platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I am no expert on Ethiopian food, but Zobel is probably around the middle of the Ethiopian restaurants I have tried in the area. I ordered the Zobel combo, and the meat was tasty enough, but both the size of the portions and the amount of different meats, veggies, etc. in the combo fell below what I would normally expect from other restaurants. I have also had tastier options elsewhere. Like all Ethiopian food, Zobel is reasonably priced and two people can share a meal here for much less than your average full service restaurant. Zobel is conveniently located for me, so I may come back, but I first will be looking at trying some of the other Ethiopian restaurants in the neighborhood. read more

Not one of the stronger Ethiopian food places in the area. The chicken dishes we ordered were both good, but the veggie sampler--typically almost indistinguishable among local places--was a few rungs on the ladder below what we had come to expect from Seattle. portions tended to be on the small side, too; what usually would be fine for a family of 4 was only appropriate for two people (minus the copious amounts of leftover injera). Delivery though Bite Squad was fine, but, at almost the exact minute the food was due to arrive, an extra 30-minutes was tacked on to the delivery time. Not sure if this delay was traceable to the restaurant or the delivery service, but :90 total time from order to eating seems less than optimal. Injera was OK, nothing more or less than the other places in town. Would stop by for lunch if in the area, but would not again get dinner delivery from. read more

Picked up two vegetarian combo lunches yesterday. I placed an order online for pickup and when I arrived 20 minutes later, food wasn't ready yet. I say that with a lot of annoyance because while waiting I listened to the microwave beep on and off several times. I took my meals home, for my friend and I. All of that made sense when we ate our food. The injera was awful, hands down the worst I've ever eaten ... there's no comparison to how bad it was. The food was not even mediocre, it was very obviously old food and neither of us could finish our meal. I spent the rest of the day and night sick... so did my friend. read more

Got delivery twice while staying at a downtown hotel. So cool for this Alaskan to be able to kick back and get delicious Ethiopian food brought to me! I got the Zobel combo both times. Really generous and delicious. The wots had simmered long enough for the complex spices to reach a mellow harmony. Tender chicken in the doro wot. Nicely tangy but not overly sour injera. One day I'll have to actually eat at the restaurant! Will definitely order again! read more

Even. more flavorful than other Ethiopian restaurants. Best in Seattle. Highly recommended.

I have heard they have been under two management chances since 2011. Now, they do things right. When was the last time you walked out of a restaurant saying, "OMG, those green lentils were unreal?" We would not have gone in if we had read these Yelp reviews first. We almost did not go in because have they have a huge banner proclaiming their vegetarian food to be the best and my husband didn't want to go to an Ethiopian restaurant that didn't serve Gored Gored. Actually, I don't think he wants to live in a world where Ethiopian Restaurants don't serve Gored Gored. But we were in the mood for adventure and a spontaneous visit to a new restaurant, while not a lot of adventure, is much better than none. It was Epic. The smell, the sounds, the ambiance and the prices are all what a not-Americanized Ethiopian restaurant should be. It was like coming home after 10 years of eating in "bistros." Yummy Ethiopian Bistro's, but bistros, nonetheless. Half way through dinner, we decided that this was now going to "our" new Ethiopian restaurant. I think if the world were just, restaurants would not be rated by arbitrary opinions and stars, but by the exact number of "mmmm"s and grunts they generate per day. And if that were true, Zobels would be at the top of the list. read more